Please join me in congratulating the Libraries as the latest Green Team to earn their Sprout Certification, the second of four certifications through the IU Office of Sustainability Green Teams Program. The Libraries has 11 members (From left to right: Teresa Reynolds, Mike Noth, Melissa Harding, Daniel Bruhn, Vern Wilkins, Jim Champion, Jennifer Chaffin. Missing members include: John Cash, Gary Charbonneau, Chanitra Bishop, and Virginia Dearborn).

The Libraries commitment to sustainability is just one example of how we, as a campus, can make a significant impact on environmental, social, and economic issues by restructuring how we live, learn, and work at Indiana University.

The No Waste final waste audit event is this Friday, March 23, from 9:00AM – 11:00AM. It will be the biggest and most organized audit yet. Coffee and breakfast from Bloomington Bagel Company will be provided, as well as all the necessary safety gear. Come for 5 minutes or 2 hours – we need your help! Please wear closed-toed shoes and long pants/sleeves – and remember, if you don’t think you’re cut out for sorting trash and recycling, we have several jobs not involving touching anything icky.

The audit will be held in the Ballantine Hall parking deck, across from the loading dock. If you are standing at the globe in the main lobby, head right, then through the back entrance, and you’ll see a big group of people having a great time… that’s us!

The City of Bloomington has launched a new campaign called “Imagine Bloomington”, and wants everyone to get involved! To help shape the future of Bloomington, visit the Imagine Bloomington webpage and chose from the various methods of contributing to the City’s comprehensive plan. If you don’t have time to attend one of the many workshops, you can participate online through the City’s online Town Hall, Facebook page, or Twitter; you can also share your thoughts through a short survey.

Description: At 6 p.m., Ben Brabson, Emeritus Professor of Physics, will provide a presentation entitled “Climate Change and Bloomington”. The talk will focus on ways that we in Bloomington can take full advantage of our capacity to think, to understand and to benefit from specific actions to both mitigate and adapt to our changing climate.

Green Drinks Bloomington is a lively, informal social networking event for people from all walks of life who are interested in making a greener world. Folks gather every month to share libations and ideas, discuss, debate, explore and make new friends and business connections. It is held the 4th Wednesday of every month from 5:30 – 7:30 pm at the Banquet Facility of the Upland Brewing Company. There’s a $5 suggested donation, some food will be provided. To receive a monthly reminder, write greendrinksbloomington@gmail.com. To learn more about Green Drinks visit www.greendrinks.org.

Prospect Hill presents: Permaculture Presentation by Keith Johnson

When: 7:00 -9:00 pm (Tuesday, March 6th)

Where: Monroe County Public Library Auditorium

Description: Come learn about Permaculture from Keith Johnson! Permaculture is about designing ecological human habitats and food production systems. It is a land use and community building movement which strives for the harmonious integration of human dwellings, microclimate, annual and perennial plants, animals, soils, and water into stable, productive communities. A central theme in permaculture is the design of ecological landscapes that produce food. However, permaculture entails much more than just food production. Energy-efficient buildings, waste water treatment, recycling, and land stewardship in general are other important components of permaculture. Permaculture has expanded its purview to include economic and social structures that support the evolution and development of more permanent communities, such as co-housing projects and eco-villages.

Keith is an experienced permaculture site designer and teacher. He has been providing consulting advice and design since 1979. He has developed an intimate knowledge of various regional landscapes, botany, soils, earthworks, natural building and other skills. With a wealth of experience in temperate climate permaculture systems he offers a range of consulting services to regional and distant clients.

Description: Show our campus some love and help us keep IU beautiful! Volunteers are needed to help us sort and categorize campus litter in support of an effort to reduce littering on campus. Did you know that IU staff currently pick up 1,500 lbs of litter a day off of the ground on the IUB campus? Help us locate the sources and find solutions to this problem. Wear long sleeves, pants, and closed-toed shoes. We’ll provide the rest. Questions can be directed to IUOS intern Mark Milby at momilby@indiana.edu.

Volunteer with us at the Campus Garden Initiative’s new plot at Hilltop Gardens: learn and practice skills for planning, planting and tending to edible plants; help shape the plan for using produce grown this summer; and meet fellow volunteers passionate about growing food for our campus. Bike racks and parking spaces are available for volunteers.